Section X. Consular Service
Art. 56
The whole of the Consular service of the German Reich is under the superintendence of the Emperor, who appoints the Consuls after consultation with the Committee of the Federal Council for Commerce and Traffic.
Within the official district of the German Consuls no new Consulates for separate States may be erected. The German Consuls exercise the functions of a national Consul for any State of the Federation not represented in their district. All the existing Consulates for separate States are to be abolished as soon as the organisation of the German Consulates is so completed that the representation of the interests of all the States of the Confederation is recognised by the Federal Council as secured by the German Consulates.
Section XI. Military Affairs of the Reich
Art. 57
Every German is liable to military service and cannot have that service performed by a substitute.
Art. 58
The expenses and burdens of the whole of the military affairs of the Reich are to be borne equally by all of the States of the Federation and those belonging to them, so that no preferences, or overburdening of any single States or classes, are in principle admissible. Where an equal division of the burdens is not practicable in natura, without prejudice to the public welfare, the matter is to be arranged on the principles of equity by means of legislation.
Art. 59
Every German capable of service belongs for seven years to the standing army, as a rule from the completion of the twentieth to the commencement of the twenty-eighth year of his age; that is, for the first three of these years with the standards, and for the last four years in the reserve; then for the following five years of his life to the Landwehr. In those States of the Federation wherein hitherto a longer period than twelve years of service altogether has been legal, the gradual reduction of such service can take place only in so far as regard for the readiness for war of the Reich army permits it.
With respect to the emigration of the reserve men only those regulations are to be applied which are in force for the emigration of the Landwehr men.
Art. 60
The effective strength of the German army in peace is fixed until 31 December 1871 at 1 per cent of the population of the year 1867, and the separate States of the Federation supply it pro rata thereof. Subsequently the effective strength of the army in peace will be determined by legislation of the Reichstag.
[ . . . ]
print version
return to list
previous document